where they will camp overnight and then come out tomorrow. I helped him get his pack ready with what I felt he would need for a one-nighter. When we were done, his pack weighed 25lbs, pretty good for a 13-year-old.

My wife was worried that he wouldn't have everything, or that he'd be cold or hungry, and kept putting stuff in his pack. I kept trying to remind her that he had to carry all this stuff, and I even pulled the "I've been hiking a lot more than you have" card on her, but it didn't work. By the time she was done, the pack weighed almost 40lbs. I woke up early and took all the extra stuff (things like a heavy jacket, extra shoes, three pairs of clothes) and hid them in my car so she wouldn't catch me.

It's a lot different than when I was 13. I'm pretty sure Mom didn't know I was gone on some of our scout hikes.